Hold on to your hats and hearts as Bolton Percy Cricket Club U15 girls notch up a fantastic victory at North Yorkshire Girls League Senior tournament.

Playing eight-a-side, eight over innings (pairs cricket), the girls smashed their way to numerous splendid wins, finishing unbeaten on the day and being crowned 2014 champions.

Including two last ball thrillers against much older teams from Richmond and North Stainley (2012 and 2013 champions respectively), coach and supporters nerves just managed to hold out as the girls calmly closed out each game, showing great skill with both bat and ball.

Despite including more Yorkshire representative players than the other teams, being predominantly U13, it was a fantastic achievement and performance by the Percy’s to win an U17’s tournament.

In addition to captain Hannah Greenwood receiving the tournament trophy, special mention goes to Eve Perrin who also picked up a Player of the Tournament award (chocolate) for her breath taking six hitting to finish each innings.

With over 130 girls at Harrogate on the day, Bolton Percy had four junior sides competing with their U11 team also finishing a creditable 2nd place in the tournaments Intermediate Hard Ball competition.

This is the end of a fantastic year for the girls, having also finished second in the North Yorkshire Girls League (by virtue of completing less games than the champions) and making it through to the final of the York and District Boys League U13 Cup final, where they narrowly lost by 12 runs to a strong Dunnington team.

Women and girls cricket in the York area is rapidly going from strength to strength. I would encourage all girls to give it a try, being one of those rare sports where girls can complete and beat the boys! If anyone who is interested in attending beginners or taster sessions please contact James at hodgejm@aol.com

It goes without saying that Bolton Percy Cricket Club are extremely proud of all the girls and we wish them every success for the 2015 season.

The 2014 season ended on a fine Septembers evening with victory for both BP teams.

The First Eleven squeezed home at lowly Selby. After electing to bat Selby posted a modest 154 all out. BP were indebted to opener Jacob Green who stood steadfast as wickets tumbled eventually falling for 76. Only Captain Tom Malloch, with 26, contributed anything of significance but BP edged home with seven down off 47 overs to record 30 points and confirm 7th place in the table. With 6 outright wins and several draw points this was a creditable return over a somewhat truncated weather affected season. Looking at the form guide over the last 5 weeks BP firsts were third with their points haul so a good strong finish to the season. Building for next year starts now though.

The seconds had a most enjoyable afternoon against higher placed Carlton towers and a great deal of joy is had in reporting the contribution made by our younger team members. In fact they took all 10 Towers wickets between them and all four made the ball swing and cut and well deserved their rewards. Stand up James Wilson with a spectacular exhibition of swing and seam bowling, 6 over 4 maidens 3 wickets for 4 runs. Exceptional.

Charlie Gregory continued the good work with 1 for 16 off his 6 overs, Keiron Gargan with 6 overs and 1 for 20 and star of the day James Tucker who wiped out Towers with 6 overs, 5 wickets for 26 leaving Towers in tatters and his father £50 worse off after a rather rash promise made in the morning to reward a five wicket haul!! Backed up by some energetic fielding and solid catching Towers were tipped out for 104 off 35 overs.

Chris Megone and Giles Anderson opened with a solid partnership of 33, Giles 22 before the old timers got a look in and John Rossington with 30 and Peter Atkinson with 31 seeing the team home to a very comfortable 8 wicket victory and 30 points.

This, apart from being a good win, indicated a great deal of promise for the future. A good blend of youth and experience with the younger members all making significant and telling contributions. If the club can keep these six or seven youngsters interested in the game, with support from the older members the second eleven future looks bright.

30 points ensured BP finished in 7th position with a very respectable haul of 333 points. The form guide showed BP fourth in points gained over the last five matches so again a decent solid finish to the season. With 5 games abandoned and two games where we could not field a side, it seems we have only played two thirds of a season, nevertheless 7 outright victories in the 15 games we did complete is a good record and the club looks forward with confidence to next year.

It was a bit of a mixed weekend for BP teams with the firsts, having strung two consecutive wins together coming to grief at Sessay. Pip Malloch had 3 – 43 as Sessay finished on 200 – 6 but BP failed miserably in their run chase. Despite 36 from Tom Malloch the innings folded at 94 and only 3 points collected. Malton hung on for a draw picking up 8 points and Selby had the better of their match at Pickering picking up 27 points. BP remain 28 points clear of the relegation spot.

The seconds faired much better, picking up win points against Dunnington. Put in to bat Dunnington got to 53 – 2 at one point but Maaz Ashraf and Martyn Ferguson doing the damage with 3 – 20 and 3-12 respectively Dunnington subsided to 94 all out. Jon Anderson helping out with 2 – 29. Debutant Chris Megone and Giles Anderson made a watchful start posting 40 before Giles was run out. Nevertheless the solid start laid the ground for some relatively pressure free batting as, following 21 from Giles, Jonny Green hit a breezy 22 and Martyn Ferguson saw the team home with 16 .no. A very good team performance with 30 priceless points. BP sailed up the table to 6th, and whilst now only 3 points off fifth spot, 22 points covers teams from 4th through to 7th.

BP firsts met fellow relegation strugglers Malton in a 60 pointer. Predictably asked to bat on a pudding wicket – credit to all for getting the game on after the heavy rain – BP slumped to 84 all out. Potentially disastrous against a team BP need to put distance between over the last few games. BP if nothing are not fighters now and an absolute wicked bowling performance from Andrew Brewster, 5 – 17, supported by Jacob Green, 3-27 saw them hustle out Malton for 78. Closer than it should have been perhaps as Malton were 45 – 9 at one point. A real nail biter and credit to all for a great fighting performance. They are now 33 points clear of Malton and with 30 points separating 7th place and BP in 10th still lots more to play for.

BP seconds, despite having a quite strong looking, or at least relatively youthful team out, took only 6 points from the visit to Pocklington. Poor, indeed buffet bowling, across the first 12 overs saw Pock get off to a flyer and it was always hard work to pull them back. The opener and number three both made half centuries and despite a very promising bowling debut from Mas Ashraf 4-23, James Rossington 3 – 39 and some excellent catching from messrs Ferguson (senior!) Furze and Rossington, Pock were dismissed for 199. It always looked a tall order with no BP batsmen in any real sort of form and only Andy Ferguson with 39 challenged what was not particularly great bowling from a team who are chasing Hemingbrough at the top of the league. The innings closed on 105 with Jon Anderson at least securing a further bonus point. With other teams gaining 9 points for being rained off BP actually ended up dropping a place to 9th but with only 5 points covering four teams 6th place is still achievable with a little luck and some more fight in the batting department.

BP took win draw points in a tight game against local rivals Copmanthorpe. When the rains came BP were well poised at 41 – 1 off 17. The heavens opened and the game was in the balance however the super sopper worked its magic and when play resumed the game became a 70 over affair with BP having used 17 of them already. The minimum overs Copmanthorpe could bat to enable a result was 28 overs so BP batted through to the end of over 42 with the last wicket falling on 142. A decent par score with Cop having 28 overs to go for them. They did so with some intent maintaining 5 per over up to the 20th over after fireworks from M.Morton 53. However a superb spell of 4 for 41 off James Rossington pegged Cop back and with M.Ferguson 1/26 and James Wilson 1/12 putting in tight spells Cop called off the chase with 28 wanted off three overs and two wickets to fall, finishing on 117 – 7 Given the game looked in doubt at one point it was credit to both teams for producing a match that could have gone either way right up to the end. 23 points for Percy takes them up to 7th but only 5 points off fourth spot. It’s very tight.

BP firsts did the business in some style at Whitkirk with captain Danny White putting in a real captains all round performance. 50 with the bat, supported by Tom Atkinson with 38, Matty Howden 48 and Andrew Brewster 21 BP saw it through to 182-9. Danny then capped a fine day with 5 wickets, supported by Pete Houseman with 3 and Andy Brewster with 2 as Whitkirk were skittled for 60 and 30 very welcome points which lifted BP above Malton. Well done and a great team performance.

BP seconds got back to winning ways with a comfortable win in the sun at local rivals Tadcaster. Inserted to bat, thankfully, on a steaming hot afternoon, BP got off to a studious start with John Rossington and James Hodge adding 41 across 18 overs. Steady stuff but in the context of the heat quite vital in keeping Tad out on the field. Once Hodge had gone though progress remained staid and it was left to Mike Furze to hurry the score along in the final third of the innings. John batted on valiantly in to the 41st over before his legs gave out, along with everything else, and he retired tired (hurt) after contributing 81 priceless runs. Karl Martin and Mike pushed home the advantage with 69 coming off the last 10 overs and an unlikely, at one point, 183 for 5 being posted, Mike 48 n.o. and Karl 23 n.o.

Tadcasters response was always up with the rate but a steady stream of wickets made sure they were never going to get close. Warhorse Martin Pears finished with a very creditable 4 -14 of 5.3 overs, Martyn Ferguson with 3 – 24 off 9 and a mention for James Wilson with an impressive debut, 1 for 23 off 6 and a fine catch to boot. Well done James. Tadcasters response ending at 118 a.o and 30 welcome points for the seconds who rise to eighth place but only 26 points covering third to eighth there is plenty to play for.

The firsts failed to defend a decent total against Goole Town. Making 194-6 first up, 102 n.o. from Jacob Green and support from Tom Atkinson with 35 was not enough as they were unable to contain Goole who looked comfortable at 196-5 with a couple of overs to spare. Percy drop into a relegation spot 21 points adrift of third bottom Malton.

BPCC were delighted to formally open the new pavilion extension this afternoon, welcoming former Yorkshire, England and Manchester United player Arnie Sidebottom to the club to do the honours.

About 150 players, members, junior members and families attended making for a wonderful occasion on a lovely sunlit evening.

The opening was the culmination of a vast amount of hard work and club President Henry Houseman was able to publicly thank a number of individuals whose tireless efforts have brought about the extension. Also thanked were Sport England for their generous grant, the ECB for their support and also the Tadcaster Communities Engagement Forum and Bolton Percy and Appleton Roebuck Parish Councils.

Grateful thanks were also given to those who had generously contributed to the Buy a Brick scheme and also to those yet to donate!!

The club now benefits from a much enlarged tea room, bar and fully equipped kitchen together with decent toilet facilities, a third changing room and much improved showering and changing facilities.

BPCC firsts picked up very welcome 27 points at Folkton. A solid batting display, Joe White 43, Tom Atkinson 33, Tom Malloch and Danny White both 25 saw them through to 207-8 off 48 overs. Sometimes on a very flat wicket at Folkton this would be sub par but the team defended well and almost squeezed a win with Folkton being 186 – 9 at the close with Jacob Green the pick with 3-25.

The second eleven, after the debacle last week, fielded several players making their seasons debut and a decent team was put on the field. This showed as Percy elected to field and a blistering start from stand in captain Jon Anderson saw visitors TABS slump to 29-5 at one point. Stout resistance from their captain, R.Williams with 58 and Billy Foulkes with 42 saw them through to 155 all out off 44 overs. Jon finishing with a superb 11/5/15/5 return ably supported by James Rossington with 2 for 13 off 9.

Percy’s response got off to the usual poor start and sometimes this year 155 would have been a stern target however Martin Pears on season debut made an excellent 44 and was supported brilliantly by Andy Ferguson with 36 and Giles Anderson, also playing his first game, a classy and important knock of 38 only getting out when the scores were tied. The fielding was tidy and efficient with Charlie Gregory outstanding and plenty of energy from Duncan Robertson, James Tucker and Andy Ferguson. Six wickets down when Karl Martin hit the winning runs and 30 points bagged.

This was a splendid game of cricket played in a good spirit on a beautiful day and the ground really looked impressive and the new extension receiving plenty of plaudits.

Percy remain 8th but with only 26 points covering teams from 4th to 9th there is much still to play for this year. Lets hope we an turn some consistently competitive teams out and enjoy a real push for both Elevens for the second half of the season.